cut in
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To interrupt a conversation or activity by speaking or acting: To insert oneself abruptly into an ongoing discussion or event.
- To drive a vehicle into a line of traffic abruptly and closely in front of another: To move into a lane or position in traffic without leaving adequate space.
- To interrupt a dancing couple to take one partner for oneself: To break into a dance, traditionally by tapping the shoulder of one dancer to take their place.
- To mix in using cutting motions (technical/culinary): To incorporate one substance into another using a cutting or slicing action.
Usage and Examples
- Verb:
- Please don't cut in while I'm speaking. (Interrupting a conversation)
- The aggressive driver cut in front of me, causing me to brake hard. (Driving into traffic)
- At the ball, it was customary for gentlemen to cut in on a dancing couple. (Interrupting a dance)
- Cut the butter in until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. (Mixing with cutting motions)
Advanced Usage
- "to cut in on someone/something": To interrupt a specific person or a specific activity.
- He rudely cut in on our private discussion.
- "to cut in line": (A common variant, though a compound phrase) To move ahead of others who are waiting in a queue.
- It's impolite to cut in line at the store.
Variants and Related Words
- Cut-in (noun): A film editing technique; an interruption.
- The director used a quick cut-in for a close-up shot.
- Cutting in (gerund/continuous form): The act of interrupting or merging.
- His constant cutting in made the meeting very inefficient.
Synonyms
- Interrupt: To stop the continuous progress of an activity or process.
- Butt in: To intrude or interrupt impolitely (informal).
- Chime in: To join a conversation by interjecting a remark.
- Merge (in traffic contexts): To join a stream of traffic.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Cut off: To interrupt or obstruct; to disconnect.
- She cut me off before I could finish my sentence.
- Break in: To interrupt a conversation.
- He broke in with an important announcement.
Related Idioms
- "Cut to the chase": To get to the point without wasting time. (Note: This idiom uses "cut" but is a separate expression).
- "Have a cut of": To receive a share of profits (related to the "share or profit" sense, though "cut in" as a verb phrase for this is less common).
- If you help us, you'll get a cut of the proceeds.
Verb
- mix in with cutting motions
- interrupt a dancing couple in order to take one of them as one's own partner
- Jim always cuts in!
- break into a conversation
- her husband always chimes in, even when he is not involved in the conversation
- drive in front of another vehicle leaving too little space for that vehicle to maneuver comfortably
- allow someone to have a share or profit